The first big hurdle has been taken by Google and Motorola Mobility. The European Union has given the green light for Google to proceed with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility. The EU will, however, monitor the deal and its outcome for potential patent abuse. Update: And there we go, the US DoJ has approved the deal as well. Update II: The just-linked DoJ report also approves the Nortel patent sale to Apple, Microsoft, and RIM. I'm hoping for lots of fireworks here so the patent system blows up in Google's, Microsoft's and Apple's faces, so we can point and laugh about all the money they wasted.

I do not think so, but I may be mistaken. Firstly, the patent pools for 3G and other standards are growing and changing daily. They were not set in stone when a 3G standard was first agreed to be a good idea. Secondly, this knowledge came to light based on these letters that the parties needed to submit to the EU and DOJ for approval. It points to a new submission to ETSI of 140 new patents that they currently own prior to approval of the Nortel deal. (Apple made its first disclosures and submissions to ETSI in 2007 upon the release of the iPhone, and this submission does not foreclose the possibility of other Apple patents already counting amoung those deemed part of the standards.) So presumably this does not yet include Nortel patents, particularly those which are already a part of the standard (they don't need to be considered for inclusion; they already are included).

AND RELEVANT QUOTE: "Apple's supplemental disclosure identifies 140 Apple patents and patent applications that may be or may become essential to LTE, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, and GSM. This collection includes newly issued Apple patents and published applications, as well as assets acquired from third parties."